Copy of Email sent to CFC & FAC

Sent to fansagainstcriminalisation@gmail.com and operations@celticfc.co.uk

Sir’s, I would like to draw your attention to the incident which took place in the Gallowgate area of Glasgow on Saturday 16th of March 2013 between 12.50pm and 2.10pm where my wife and myself witnessed what can only be described as over the top Police tactics perpetrated against a peaceful group of Celtic fans and some members of the general public.

I myself am a 48 year old law abiding citizen and lifelong Celtic supporter. In all those years apart from the mounted Police charge in Janefield street in the eighties I have never witnessed such Police aggression.

My wife and myself decided on Thursday of last week that we would join in a peaceful walk from the Gallowgate to Celtic Park to show support for fellow fans who have been harshly treated by the Police. We did not do this without serious consideration.

Over the past eighteen months we have witnessed a tangible increase in what can only be described as a heavy handed approach to Celtic fans by Strathclyde Police at Celtic Park and Hampden. The incidents we have witnessed have been worrying but pale in to insignificance when compared to Saturday’s disgraceful behaviour by the Police.

We witnessed peaceful non aggressive Celtic supporters being subjected to harassment, intimidation, Kettling and other overzealous tactics by Strathclyde Police officers while they attempted to walk peacefully along the public highway. At no time did we see any Celtic supporter raise their hands or throw missiles at any Police officer and I have given a statement to that effect to Strathclyde Police, a prominent QC, my MP and MSP. I have also made it clear to the before mentioned that I am willing to testify to this under oath in a court of law.

I also have a collection of images some of which are extremely distressing which I have passed on to the Solicitors firm Gildeas in Glasgow. I am more than happy to share these images with Fans Against Criminalisation and Celtic Football Club for their consideration. It is clear from these pictures that there was absolutely no aggression from any Celtic supporter towards the large Police presence.

For the Police to say that the operation on Saturday was spontaneous and not pre planned is an absolute nonsense in my opinion. The amount of Police resources deployed to that one area in such a small timescale in my opinion would be near impossible for a normal Police response to any instantaneous protest. I believe that The Police knew for days before and this operation was pre planned.

I sincerely hope that Celtic Football Club stand up for their supporters who were a credit to the club and their fellow supporters by showing great restraint in the face of aggressive policing on Saturday.

I am writing to express my concerns about the policing of young Celtic supporters in the Gallowaygate area on Saturday.

I’m a season ticket holder a local councillor in Preston and a University Professor. In all my years I have never witnessed a group of football supporters being treated in the way members of the Green Brigade were treated on Saturday. They were kettled, man-handled and treated aggressively by the police.

On Saturday I brought a group of students from Liverpool to the match. They were shocked by what happened.

The harassment of the Green Brigade had an impact on the crowd on Saturday. For weeks I had told my students about the special atmosphere at Celtic Park. Yet with the Green Brigade silent in protest at their treatment we were out sung and out huddled by the Aberdeen fans.

I urge the club to make a strong statement in support of our fans and members of the Green Brigade. If we see ourselves as a ‘Celtic family’ wecannot stand by when some of our fans are treated this way. It is my fear that if the club fails to speak out then the atmosphere will decline and the crowds start to dwindle.

I am writing to express my concerns about the policing of young Celtic supporters in the Gallowaygate area on Saturday.

I’m a season ticket holder a local councillor in Preston and a University Professor. In all my years I have never witnessed a group of football supporters being treated in the way members of the Green Brigade were treated on Saturday. They were kettled, man-handled and treated aggressively by the police.

On Saturday I brought a group of students from Liverpool to the match. They were shocked by what happened.

The harassment of the Green Brigade had an impact on the crowd on Saturday. For weeks I had told my students about the special atmosphere at Celtic Park. Yet with the Green Brigade silent in protest at their treatment we were out sung and out huddled by the Aberdeen fans.

I urge the club to make a strong statement in support of our fans and members of the Green Brigade. If we see ourselves as a ‘Celtic family’ wecannot stand by when some of our fans are treated this way. It is my fear that if the club fails to speak out then the atmosphere will decline and the crowds start to dwindle.

I would hope that the club becomes ProActive with such complaints from its very own support than appear to be ReActive , they have to Ask Serious Questions of strathclyde Police on how they are policing the celtic support before someone gets injured as a consequence of there heavy handed policing saturdays scenes where nothing short of Scandalous Its time our Club made there Position Clear that they will not tolerate there own fans being treated this way .

I would hope that the club becomes ProActive with such complaints from its very own support than appear to be ReActive , they have to Ask Serious Questions of strathclyde Police on how they are policing the celtic support before someone gets injured as a consequence of there heavy handed policing saturdays scenes where nothing short of Scandalous Its time our Club made there Position Clear that they will not tolerate there own fans being treated this way .

I was also at the above event for the whole duration and share the same sentiments concerning Police over reaction. I had a conversation with a Police officer at the scene ( when the kettling was taking place). I asked him when the Police were aware that this march was taken place. He replied the Police knew for weeks and refused the march to take place on the road. He said that the pavement was fine to carry out this march on.

I was also at the above event for the whole duration and share the same sentiments concerning Police over reaction. I had a conversation with a Police officer at the scene ( when the kettling was taking place). I asked him when the Police were aware that this march was taken place. He replied the Police knew for weeks and refused the march to take place on the road. He said that the pavement was fine to carry out this march on.

My fellow supporters ,I am extremely distressed at the events over the weekend ,this severe police harassment has been going on too long and I myself is going through court proceedings ,charged with singing the roll of honour at Inverness at the start of this season ,never been in trouble once inthe 30 years of following Celtic. The problem we have is Celtic want rid of the green brigade,our head of security,Ronnie Hawthorn ,who I may add is an ex policeman want them is adamant they must go. The club is the ones who will suffer because it’s getting to the stage now where you have to question is it worth going and being branded a criminal for doing something you love

My fellow supporters ,I am extremely distressed at the events over the weekend ,this severe police harassment has been going on too long and I myself is going through court proceedings ,charged with singing the roll of honour at Inverness at the start of this season ,never been in trouble once inthe 30 years of following Celtic. The problem we have is Celtic want rid of the green brigade,our head of security,Ronnie Hawthorn ,who I may add is an ex policeman want them is adamant they must go. The club is the ones who will suffer because it’s getting to the stage now where you have to question is it worth going and being branded a criminal for doing something you love

Questions raised by Cllr McMahon and others over the level of complaint on weekend issues over policing tactics etc and requesting an Inquiry.

In essence as I heard it, these points were dismissed by Kenny McAskill over the march, meeting, walk, which he considered a GB thing.

Perhaps Mr. McAskill was or is unaware that not all present or subjected to kettling etc were of the GB, or indeed why that should make the slightest bit of difference to the complaints ?.

Little was said in his replies that I noticed, on the tactics used by police or the apparent failure of the off & coms Bill which was again challenged, similar to when the creation of the acts/laws, were passed. Remember they were passed against the advice of almost everybody else, after the alleged game of shame.

Use of the term ‘illegal march’ seems to be a particular bonus ball for those that wish to ignore any complaint of the conduct of those in attendance to supervise it.

Having said that, I believe that any further marches, walks, meetings, displays, boycotts,, etc. should be on done totally on a legal footing, stating intention to assist in the removal of that ‘Bonus Ball’ and to allow complaint to be highlighted properly and hopefully with the proper coverage. (walking out of a match or refusing to enter the exception).

Quite simply, to make complaint against a body that is then sent to supervise that complaint, will not be allowed, with the slightest excuse being available to suppress that view in my opinion.
‘Scotland has a problem with listening’

Complaint must be seen and heard on behalf of all Celtic supporters Green Brigade or not, and permission sought through proper channels to raise those concerns. Indeed the wider football supporting community should be encouraged to make clear their thoughts on the Bill which in my opinion was so hastily and ill-advisably pushed through. It will affect all clubs in time, I believe Celtic being the test case for a pilot scheme to convince of it’s necessity in the first place.

Remember after the game of shame, Celtic became the villain of the piece in many eyes, media included, it seems that opinion is firmly set.

This is a civil liberties issue as much if not more than a football behaviour one. As Mr. McAskill I believe himself said, ( I’ll have to watch it again) the arrests and offenses where not of a footballing nature, but of drug possession, breach of peace etc and therefore not particular to the offensive behaviour and coms at a football match bill.
(for me that is just a handy broom to sweep with )

When an incident or accusation of sustained pressure on supporters is taken in isolation the above may seem to apply. Not so regards the Green Brigade who have highlighted many occasions they have felt singled out for unwelcome attention and expressed so.

Saturday cannot be seen as an Isolated event, a one off type, when massed together it appears to be a campaign against a certain club and it’s supporters and all supporters should make their voices heard , whether supportive of the Green Brigade or not.

If funding is needed to allow for peaceful march, demonstration, walk or meeting then perhaps that is something to be sought through football supporters organisations and supporters themselves.

For me if one does not use the laws they themselves put in place to highlight the failings of those laws, then one is left open to those laws denying that challenge to them.

Questions raised by Cllr McMahon and others over the level of complaint on weekend issues over policing tactics etc and requesting an Inquiry.

In essence as I heard it, these points were dismissed by Kenny McAskill over the march, meeting, walk, which he considered a GB thing.

Perhaps Mr. McAskill was or is unaware that not all present or subjected to kettling etc were of the GB, or indeed why that should make the slightest bit of difference to the complaints ?.

Little was said in his replies that I noticed, on the tactics used by police or the apparent failure of the off & coms Bill which was again challenged, similar to when the creation of the acts/laws, were passed. Remember they were passed against the advice of almost everybody else, after the alleged game of shame.

Use of the term ‘illegal march’ seems to be a particular bonus ball for those that wish to ignore any complaint of the conduct of those in attendance to supervise it.

Having said that, I believe that any further marches, walks, meetings, displays, boycotts,, etc. should be on done totally on a legal footing, stating intention to assist in the removal of that ‘Bonus Ball’ and to allow complaint to be highlighted properly and hopefully with the proper coverage. (walking out of a match or refusing to enter the exception).

Quite simply, to make complaint against a body that is then sent to supervise that complaint, will not be allowed, with the slightest excuse being available to suppress that view in my opinion.
‘Scotland has a problem with listening’

Complaint must be seen and heard on behalf of all Celtic supporters Green Brigade or not, and permission sought through proper channels to raise those concerns. Indeed the wider football supporting community should be encouraged to make clear their thoughts on the Bill which in my opinion was so hastily and ill-advisably pushed through. It will affect all clubs in time, I believe Celtic being the test case for a pilot scheme to convince of it’s necessity in the first place.

Remember after the game of shame, Celtic became the villain of the piece in many eyes, media included, it seems that opinion is firmly set.

This is a civil liberties issue as much if not more than a football behaviour one. As Mr. McAskill I believe himself said, ( I’ll have to watch it again) the arrests and offenses where not of a footballing nature, but of drug possession, breach of peace etc and therefore not particular to the offensive behaviour and coms at a football match bill.
(for me that is just a handy broom to sweep with )

When an incident or accusation of sustained pressure on supporters is taken in isolation the above may seem to apply. Not so regards the Green Brigade who have highlighted many occasions they have felt singled out for unwelcome attention and expressed so.

Saturday cannot be seen as an Isolated event, a one off type, when massed together it appears to be a campaign against a certain club and it’s supporters and all supporters should make their voices heard , whether supportive of the Green Brigade or not.

If funding is needed to allow for peaceful march, demonstration, walk or meeting then perhaps that is something to be sought through football supporters organisations and supporters themselves.

For me if one does not use the laws they themselves put in place to highlight the failings of those laws, then one is left open to those laws denying that challenge to them.

If the authorities get off with this kind of ‘overactive’ policing, it is only a matter of time before other groups that the authorities do not approve of will be targetted. Distressing though it must have been for all involved on Saturday, this is no longer about just the GB and Celtic fans as a whole, but it is down to, do we, as Scots, want to live in a police state? Scotland is heading down a dark road, if we cannot sort this behaviour out. It reminded me of the bully boy tactics used during the miners’ strike. To think Celtic FC, therefore the fans themselves, have to pay Strathclyde’s finest to provide this kind of ‘protection’ is mind numbing.

If the authorities get off with this kind of ‘overactive’ policing, it is only a matter of time before other groups that the authorities do not approve of will be targetted. Distressing though it must have been for all involved on Saturday, this is no longer about just the GB and Celtic fans as a whole, but it is down to, do we, as Scots, want to live in a police state? Scotland is heading down a dark road, if we cannot sort this behaviour out. It reminded me of the bully boy tactics used during the miners’ strike. To think Celtic FC, therefore the fans themselves, have to pay Strathclyde’s finest to provide this kind of ‘protection’ is mind numbing.

the green brigade do so much preparing things in the stadium that r magnificant an make the whole stadium bounce ther awesome an i for one thank these pple for all they do in the stadium an i would like to thank the man an woman who sent the email an to the professor for his letters to i.m disabled an housebound now an cant go to see my love of my team but i do watch it on TV an i still support them till my last breath so plz all us fans help to fight to make it right b cos if we lose the love of the green brigade we lose a lot of heart felt lovely fans aswell an its true the numbers will dwindle in the ground cathie hoopsghirl milne HH xxx

the green brigade do so much preparing things in the stadium that r magnificant an make the whole stadium bounce ther awesome an i for one thank these pple for all they do in the stadium an i would like to thank the man an woman who sent the email an to the professor for his letters to i.m disabled an housebound now an cant go to see my love of my team but i do watch it on TV an i still support them till my last breath so plz all us fans help to fight to make it right b cos if we lose the love of the green brigade we lose a lot of heart felt lovely fans aswell an its true the numbers will dwindle in the ground cathie hoopsghirl milne HH xxx